Nashville --- Sean Foley, a former golfer at Tennessee State University, has been working with Tiger Woods as his new swing coach for the past two weeks.

A native of Canada, Foley, played for TSU under then head coach Catana Starks for four years, 1993-97. He is now one of the world's top swing coaches.

Foley, who has spent the past two weeks in concentrated workouts to prepare Tiger Woods for the Ryder Cup this weekend, confidently predicted Woods would return to the top of his game, according to NewYorkTimes.com. He said that he believed Woods would shatter Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championship victories.

Woods had been without a coach since he parted ways with Hank Haney in May. They had worked together for six years. The only other coach the world's No. 1 player employed as a professional was Butch Harmon, which lasted until 2003.

"I find it amazing how quickly Tiger went from almost a messiah in the golf world to someone who people say is finished or done," Foley said. "I know as a teacher I'm only teaching him things he's already done before. It's like working with Amadeus. We're talking about a straight-up genius."

Foley, who is based in Orlando, Fla., lives only three miles from the Isleworth Golf and Country Club practice range where he works with Woods. Their sessions last about two hours a day.

Foley, 36, conceded that when he first began working with Woods, the experience was surreal.

"I spent years cheering this guy from afar," Foley said. "And now he's standing next to me on the range asking me about his golf swing."

But Foley, who also works with high profile clients Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose, Stephen Ames and Sean O'Hair, said his rapport with Woods developed naturally.

"He's a guy's guy, and we talk about sports," Foley said. "We've created this thing in our mind that says: 'Oh, its Tiger. There he is.' But he's just a guy who happens to be a way better golfer than most everybody else."

Tiger Woods' achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. He is the highest-paid professional athlete in the world, however, Woods' game has been in a rut and he has been playing differently than he had for most of his career.

"I'm hitting the ball much better, hence I have more confidence," said Woods ,according to AndrewRiceGolf.com. "I'm driving the ball much straighter, hitting the ball a little bit farther, especially with my irons, and those are all positive signs."